I am 26 years old, have been with my husband for almost 10 years, married for 8 1/2, and learning a ton through raising our 5 crazy/beautiful children. I am here simply for sharing what I have learned and am still learning... mostly on the subject of how God has taught me the beauty of living with a heart sold out for him, and not divided between what the world wants of me and what my conscience tells me is righteous.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

God has taught me more this season than I can ever recall learning in my life. He has shown himself to me in deeper, more intimate ways than I have ever experienced. His glory absolutely blows my mind. He has covered me in my weakness & lack of wisdom; he has comforted me in my despair & loneliness; and he has filled me to overflowing every single time I have been thirsty & hungry for more of him. .. sometimes even when I haven't asked but he knew my heart & cared for me. The box I kept my heavenly Father in has expanded... or rather, he's burst through it at the very second that I finally said, "Okay.. WHO are you!? I know you are more than what I've made you... reveal yourself to me."

I used to shrug my shoulders hearing Christians talk like this... thinking something like, "yeah whatever I know God rocks but that's just so cliche.. get real, it's just God & I know I'm going to heaven, why do you gotta get so spiritual on me? Geez... let go & relax." Funny thing is that I understand this now so deeply that I want to scream his glory to the ends of the earth! Sometimes the overflow of glee in my heart wants to literally jump out of my heart & attach itself to someone else! lol.. yes, you can laugh... it does seem kind of silly, but.. that's Jesus for ya, far larger.. far greater.. far more mesmorizing than you can even imagine. It's so amazing to me to read his Word just to find out that I only know in part now & will know his glory in full when we meet face to face. He is so perfect right now, how can I even stand before him later? Wow. Pure awe. Genuine thankfulness. Overflowing. From which this poem was birthed,

"In the dark lasts fleeting good, it seems, where through the light warmth repairs

As we fight to break the chains, through fire, lasts momentary pains

The dragons hide between the slits, to close them off gains heavenly bliss

Only when His love's embraced will we see the finish line mark this raceTo shine but only through the good would defeat the end goal, without prizeTo come out on top we must go through and under, not aroundTo run away is to take the path most walked and love not foundMedicine in smiles. Sickness in Chains. Prison in the Other's trap.Freedom where the arms are open when out of chaos beauty's caughtAnd through the seasons pass many lessons to be taughtIt matters not what circumstances change 'til character's been rearrangedAlter not the loved ones near, but rather what's inside the fearStrong is not where pride is found but where forgiveness renewsAnd 'til the day of offering, restoration spirals through the drainFilter out what's not to catch, seek his eyes to unlock the door.Drain. Repair. Clean. Renew. Or walk the same and must re-do.Eternity awaits the seeker's heart, even when he must re-start."

The journey isn't always easy, but like our pastor shared this Sunday... "You often have to take the hard way to get to the high way."

Sunday, May 9, 2010

I can't imagine life without Him, again.. Although he never left me, I left him for a time... today I celebrate who I've become since the day I surrendered it all:

"Praise the Lord, oh my soul & forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins, & heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit & crowns you with love & compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psm. 103:3-5) he's my forgiver, healer, redeemer, he satisfies & blesses, & He's ultimately my savior! WOW! He really did do it all & continues to do it all to this day.

I read these verses in bible study this week & I realized that God really has healed my broken heart from the many twists & turns life has taken.. He really has forgiven me for my sins, even the ones I commit each & every day from here on out; He has redeemed me & delivered me from all the evil habits of my past, of my youth. Each day He creates in me a new desire to go even higher with him. He satisfies me when I turn to him, and even when I close my eyes from him for a time he lifts up my chin & reminds me that he blesses the pure in heart & he will show himself to me (Mt. 5). He has saved me beyond what any words could describe or express. He fulfills so many of my desires, piece by piece, little by little & sometimes by a lot, day by day. I'm so thankful the veils have been lifted for He IS who he said he was, "Jesus Christ, Lord of Lord, God Almighty, Creator, Healer, Redeemer, Savior of all!!!!!!!!!!" I can only imagine what it will be like to stand before him one day & see his glory in full!!!!!! I will stand in absolute awe, as I stand now.

In your heavenly name, Father God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit that fills me up to overflowing & opens my heart to reality of who you've made me to be, "More than a Conqueror," (((**wow**)))... thank you,

Brandi

Monday, May 3, 2010

There's very few greater satisfactions than waking up to a big gummy smile & tiny little baby toes. .. Big eyes that say, "You are the biggest part of my life & I love you," without any actual words. .. a smell that I could inhale repeatedly throughout the day & gain a new smile each every time; all this showering over the simple fact that this beautiful being came from my body created by my same Creator. WOW.

Dedicated to my sweet children who bless me far more than they ever drain me.. haha.